Ten Commandments for Pastors Leaving a Congregation

Lovett Weems recommends a book to help pastors who are ending ministry with a congregation or moving to a new pastoral assignment.

Lawrence W. Farris has written a superb book to help pastors who are approaching the time of leaving ministry in a particular place. Using the model he applied to his earlier book for pastors who are new in a congregation, he explores “ten commandments” for pastors preparing to leave. The topics are right, and the chapters are consistently filled with wisdom. This is the best book I have read on the subject of pastoral leaving.

The commandments outlined by Farris are:

Thou Shalt Know When It Is Time to Go

Thou Shalt Explain Thyself

Thou Shalt Not Steal Away

Thou Shalt Affirm Thy Congregation’s Ministry

Thou Shalt Try to Mend Fences

Thou Shalt Help Thy Successor Have a Good Beginning

Thou Shalt Be Gentle with Thyself

Thou Shalt Attend to Thy Family

Thou Shalt (Usually) Stay Away Once Thou Hast Left

Thou Shalt Grieve

Lawrence W. Farris has made transitions himself as a Presbyterian pastor. Farris is also author ofTen Commandments for Pastors New to a Congregation, Eerdmans, 2003, andDynamics of Small Town Ministry, Alban, 2000.

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